You might need to add nutrients manually if your garden isn’t already part of an annual crop rotation cycle (and if you’re reading an article about gardening basics, that’s not altogether likely — although if accomplished farmers are also tuned in, welcome!) Because plants need the sun to grow, many of them, including most fruits and veggies, need a good amount of direct sun during the day. Mmmm. Tasty, tasty sunbeams. Stagger plantings. You don’t want to plant all your lettuce seeds at the same time, or all that lettuce will need to be harvested at around the same time! Stagger plantings by a few weeks to keep ‘emcoming!

Designing and decorating― take advantage of ideas and inspiration for creating eye-catching container gardening displaysGreen lacewings: Their voracious larvae feed on aphids, mites, thrips, and various insect eggs. Release them in your garden in late spring, after the danger of frost has passed. Plus, you’ll see many free garden plans for inspiration! Over time, you’ll see that this tool also provides “crop rotation” so that if you plan a second season, you can properly reposition your plants to avoid pests anddisease. For specific planting information, see our individual Grow Guides for over 100 popular vegetables, herbs, and fruits. For each crop, we provide specific information about how to plant, grow, and harvest, including watering, fertilizing, and pestcontrol! A Starter Beginner GardenPlan

Hebe, particularly the ‘Icing Sugar’ variety: This shrub is tough as old boots and grows all over the place, and the tough green leaves and pink and white flowers make it stand out in any sustainable garden. Short-season vegetables: If your growing season is short and sweet, try growing these vegetables: bush beans, carrots, cress, lettuce, mesclun greens, peas, radishes, scallions, spinach, and summer squash. Rotate your plants each year. Avoid planting the same plants in the same location year after year, especially if you grow vegetables in raised beds (any planting area that’s raised above the surrounding ground level). Rotation prevents pests and diseases that are specific to certain plants from building up in your garden. One of the most common errors beginners make is planting too much too soon—way more than anybody could ever eat or want! Unless you want to have zucchinis taking up residence in your attic, plan your garden with care. Start small, and only grow what you know you and your family willeat.Bierman PM, et al. (2005).Nutrient management for fruit and vegetable crop production: Nutrient cycling and maintaining soil fertility.